Japan Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

APG-63V1 is the upgrade used on the ROKAF Slam Eagles. It is also used to upgrade the APG-63 F-15s and APG-70 equipped Strike Eagles, but apparently ended only at 180 sets or something. Technically there is a huge gap between the 1970s APG-63 to the year 2000s version, you cannot expect that new radars will still contain 1970's circuit and processor technologies,which dates back to the beginning of the microprocessor revolution.

V1 is still a mechanical array, so a discussion/development/integration/certification cycle with indigenous missiles are going to add a significant time lag that is only going to "upgrade" planes with basically obsolete mechanical array radars in the 2010-2020 time period. So it really does not make sense. A better bet would be an updated version of the APG-63V2 which has the AESA (V3?), probably reworked with experiences and integration lessons with the AESA from the F-2 fighter program. The RSAF F-15 buy is said to be looking at an updated APG-63V2.

Hmm, can't believe I forgot to post on this one!

Kawasaki Heavy Industries flew the XP-1 maritime patrol aircraft for the first time on 28 September. The four-jet aircraft, formerly called the P-X, made the hour-long flight from Gifu airbase in Japan.

The Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force plans to buy 80 P-1s to replace its Kawasaki-manufactured Lockheed Martin P-3C Orion anti-submarine warfare aircraft.Kawasaki is also developing the C-X tactical transport, which shares common systems with the XP-1. Structural issues have delayed the C-X's first flight to the end of 2007.

The XP-1 is powered by four 11,200lb-thrust Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries XF7-10 turbofans. Wing span is 38m, length 35m and maximum take-off weight 80,000kg, making it similar in size to Boeing’s 737-sized P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.

Powered by two 63,500lb-thrust General Electric CF6-80C2 turbofans, the C-X will replace the Japan Air Self-Defence Force’s Kawasaki C-1 tactical transports. A modified C-1 has been used as a flying testbed for the XF7 engine.

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Looking good.

Why doesn't the USA just sell them the F-35? Its stealthy, cheaper than the f-22 and can do vertical takeoff and landing.

I mean, there are also other great fighters from other countrys like the Gripen.

Why wouldn't japan want these advanced jets?

Muffhead said:

Why doesn't the USA just sell them the F-35?

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Because it's still in development? Japan needs fighters sooner rather than later to replace the F-4s.

I mean, there are also other great fighters from other countrys like the Gripen. Why wouldn't japan want these advanced jets?

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Japan obviously would like the Raptor for the superiority it would give, but as a sale is near-impossible the Typhoon has become a credible candidate to fill the requirement.

FuManChu said:

Because it's still in development? Japan needs fighters sooner rather than later to replace the F-4s.



Japan obviously would like the Raptor for the superiority it would give, but as a sale is near-impossible the Typhoon has become a credible candidate to fill the requirement.

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It just seems like if they held off for a few a years they could get the F-35 and that it would fit their needs a lot better. Besides even if the US did decide to sell the F-22... they still have to make them and send them over and that could take a while.

Muffhead said:

It just seems like if they held off for a few a years they could get the F-35 and that it would fit their needs a lot better. Besides even if the US did decide to sell the F-22... they still have to make them and send them over and that could take a while.

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And on what ground do you base your assumption that F-22 isn't just what Japan needs and that F-35 would be better choice?

They need quick replacement for old F-4s and they need better air superiority fighter since old F-15s they have ain't exactly top of the line anymore... Considering that half of Asia is quickly modernizing air forces and that all those new Sukhois, MiGs, Js and -teens are generations ahead of JSDF F-15s it becomes quite obvious why they wont Raptor...
If US grants F-22 export to Japan unit price will fall and we might see few more Raptors for USAF(IMHO they shouldn't cut numbers so drastically and like it or not F-35 isn't exactly in the same league).

As for time period between order and delivery how long do you think that would take to deliver F-35 to JSDF? They also need to make them and ship them and they still didn't finished development...

Muffhead said:

It just seems like if they held off for a few a years they could get the F-35 and that it would fit their needs a lot better.

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Sorry, a few years? You have to be joking.

It will be well into the next decade before Japan is in a position to even have production start on its planes, let alone have them in service. On the other hand something like the Typhoon (if selected) would be available much earlier.

FuManChu said:

Sorry, a few years? You have to be joking.

It will be well into the next decade before Japan is in a position to even have production start on its planes, let alone have them in service. On the other hand something like the Typhoon (if selected) would be available much earlier.

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I'm not trying to jump on anybodys case. I'm not a huge military buff. I just find this stuff interesting. Computers are my speciality, not fighter jets, so bear with me.

Assuming Japan needs something as soon as possible and they can't get the F-22.

This is what I want to know. Why the Eurofighter over the Dassault Rafale or other "4.5" generation fighters.

Not trying to get in on anyone and keep this as friendly as possible. But could you explain this for a noobie?

The entire dilemma has its roots in the grotesquely expensive (for a licensed production plane) and painstakingly slow proceeding Mitsubishi F-2 project. After all only 98 units (last planes will be produced in FY 08/09) priced at 10-11 bn $ will be procured by JASDF and this number is insufficient to satisfy necessary replacement needs.

Mitsubishi began the project in 1988 and first flight of the prototype was after more than seven years in October 1995. The first squadron equipped with F-2 established IOC in the fall of 2000 more than 12 years after the start of the project. Mitsubishi was hampered by the peculiar and often stalling behavior of US licensing partners like Lockheed and many japanese experts suggested that developing and building a new indigenous FGA from scratch would have been a better decision back in 1987.

Obviously JASDF needs replacements for the ageing F-4 fleet (~118 planes) soon and an indigenous solution is out of the question so Tokyo has to make some awkward decisions...

Muffhead said:

Assuming Japan needs something as soon as possible and they can't get the F-22.

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You don't need to assume it. Although Japan doesn't need the fighters tomorrow, it can't wait for the F-35 - the Japanese have said as much. Of course when they come to replace the F-15s that will be a completely different story.

This is what I want to know. Why the Eurofighter over the Dassault Rafale or other "4.5" generation fighters.

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A key issue is, I think, the fact that the Typhoon was originally designed to counter Soviet fighters. Although it has moved towards a multi-role platform, it still has a first-class air-to-air ability. Not to say Rafale isn't good in that role, but I think it's fair to say that Typhoon is better.

Rafale's selling point is that its multi-role aspects are more mature. But that isn't quite what Japan needs right now. It's ironic that a European project that was mocked for being "a product of the Cold War" could be so useful in the Far East, given the PLAAF's investment in Russian planes.

Then there are things like because Typhoon has more customers (including several key partners), it's more likely there will be future upgrades. As Rafale has yet to make a single export order, there have been numerous budget pressures that might see it not evolve as much. Japan would much prefer to buy something that will definitely keep pace with the competition.

Also, the Eurofighter consortium has come up with plans for Japan to manufacture its own "customised" Typhoon that would best suit its needs, rather than have to buy an off-the-shelf made bird.

Gripen's only real advantage is it is cheaper, which doesn't concern Japan much.

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So it's really a competition between Typhoon and a Strike Eagle variant.